my altinator is makeing sounds most of the time and when its makeing the noise the batter power drops on the gauge and when it stop it goes back up. it sounds sort of like a loose belt like something metal scratching. can anyone tell me whats up with my altinator? am i gunna have to get a new one?

 

if it sounds like a loose belt and the voltage gauge dips when you hear it i'd check the belt first.

 

belts are fine i checked plus i just replaced today the sound is coming from the alt for sure

 

Pull it and have it tested at an auto parts place. CSK did mine, which i thought was bad, nope.

 

Sounds like a bad bearing in the alternator. To make sure it's in the alternator I'd press a long screwdriver on the alternator, put your thumb over the handle end, and press your ear up to your thumb and you can here what going on inside. do this on several different points above the shaft that goes throught the alternator and you'll be able to pin point the problem. Sounds really bounce around inside the engine compartment and I have sworn that my alternator was sqeaking but turns out the power-steering pump was low on fluid, but since your voltage drops it's probably in the alternator.

 

k well ya its coming from the alt i checked like u said, its flipin loud i could not keep my ear close to long. like i said though sometimes it stops makeing the noise but most of the time it does. while its makeing the nasty metal smacking metal sound the battery does not charge when it stop it does, so this mean its possible to be fixed...first good news i got. so i should not just by a new one and take this one to a shop? if it help it started makein this nose when i was out racing/going hard on her.

 

I agree, from what you're saying it sounds like a bearing. Good news.....you know what's wrong. Bad news....not much you can do but replace it. I'd just go buy a new one and have the old one checked (auto zone, advanced, napa, etc.), and at least you'll have the core there to get some of the price taken off. Should only be around $45 dollars after you trade in your old one. When you put the new one in just make sure you don't get it too tight (too much belt tension) or you'll end up burning up the bearing in the new one. Good luck.

 

If the original alternator is still charging good, and you know for a fact that the bearing is bad, just split the case and change the bearing. Most real parts stores should carry just the bearing.

If you follow this method though, make sure to look up the info on how to do it. It's not a hard process, but if you don't know how to retain the brushes, and you don't keep the stator in the right case half, you can cause some damage and end up either rebuilding the whole alternator or buying a rebuilt one.

If you buy a whole alternator, I'd suck it up and buy an A/C Delco new or reman. Alot of the aftermarket reman's that pep boys, autozone, and the other companies like these carry are crap. They can't build them well, and they use low quality parts. Sure you get a lifetime warranty, but is it really worth it if you get stranded in the middle of nowhere 6 times for the low quality part?

Good luck,
Matt

 

its kool guys i solved the problem, today performance improvement had a huge sale. so i got a new chrome altinator for the same price as a new normal one so its all good i wanted a chrome one anyway, brings me one step closer to haveing a fully chromed out engine. thanks again though

 

have a question again, today the belt came off did not brake but about and inch of was missing the teeth part (part that goes in pully) just scraped off. but i just replaced this belt about 1 month ago. is this from putting the belt to tight?? how tight should the altinator belt be??? thanks!

 

sounds like the alternator locked up for a sec.. bad bearings most likely.. as far as how tight it should be rule of thumb is a 1/4th inch flex per foot of belt.

 

Yep, you need to have that little bit of deflection in the belt. If you don't, you put a huge load on the bearing, and can even bend the pole piece in the rotor. Also, chrome has a tendancy to retain alot of heat, so it isn't the best to use on engine parts. Especially ones that need to bleed off heat The shine it gives does make the engine look clean though.

How old is the belt? Are there any other chunks of the teeth missing? Are there any glazed, worn, or burnt looking sections in it? It may have been time to replace it even before you had the chunk rip off.

 

i just reread your last post and noticed its the new alt.. i guess just having it too tight could do it.. not sure.. never did that 1 myself.. i know its a really good way to destroy bearings..

 

i put a new belt on and everything is good, i think the old alt screwed up the belt and was gunna go soon, my bad the alt is not chrome it just looks like chrome lol>but look real good anyway.
thanks for the help...oh and lil advice: dont buy any used parts that were only use for "1 week" its always BS! i only had the old alt on for about 1 week>>ya right new my a$$
later